Christmas Spirit

Christmas Spirit I have not been looking forward to this Christmas at all. I just haven't been able to get in the Christmas spirit no matter what. It's just been a rough year. Financial troubles have aggrevated me all year, work has been a rollercoaster ride with wondering if we had enough business to keep us going at times, and it's been a tough year in my personal life as well, with me n Tonya struggling at times because of all the stuff going on around us. The ministry has been the one bright spot in my life this year and I've even seen things in ministries I've dealt with this year that have been really hard spiritual blows to me as well. So, this last month or so, I've really been in a spiritual funk. I've been going out and getting gifts for my friends and family though, since I'd at least like to see other people enjoying the holiday season. For myself though, I've been telling people I don't want anything. I've been telling them "I'm skipping Christmas this year". A big part of me wishes people would stop worrying about the gift giving and all the commercialism associated with Christmas and remember that that's not what it's about anyway, but then people would just call me a Grinch or a Scrooge. Some people woulld argue that we shouldn't even been celebrating December 25th anyway, because of ties to pagan ceremonies on that date. That may actually be true. Emperor Constantine did enfold some pagan rituals and ceremonies into what we call 'Organized Christianity' in order to attract more converts at the time of his making Christianity the 'official religion' of the Roman empire and the birth of the Roman Catholic Church. I do know that we should celebrate the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at some point. We should really celebrate it everyday. Anyway, I've just been feeling so conflicted and dejected about this Christmas that I just knew it was gonna be the absolute worst Christmas ever. Then, Saturday night, I was sitting up by myself watching television when something happened. There was an old Billy Garham Christmas crusade on. He was talking about the nativity, the first Christmas. He was getting down to what is was really all about. It was all about God's undying love for us and Him sending a part of Himself into this world in order to save us. It wasn't about any rituals, or ceremonies, or idolatries. It was just about God and His Son Jesus Christ! It was about an event so big, that the entire world set it's calenders by it. We all keep track of the years by what happened Before Christ and After His Death. Scientisits and 'intellectuals' can argue with you all they want, but it's the 'God's honest truth'! After watching Billy Graham, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley came on. He was speaking about a gift wrapped up for Christmas and given to us all. It was God wrapped up in human flesh in the form of Jesus Christ and given to us all so that we may call on His name and be given eternal life! These two programs and ministers had just stirred everything that was brewing inside of me and cast away all the pollutants. The messages they had given were exactly what I needed to get my life, my ministry, and my 'Christmas Spirit' back on track. Thank you God for putting me where I needed to be and opening my eyes and ears at exactly the right time. You truly are amazing! I hope this can touch some of you and help you in these times we're in, your brother in Christ, Rev. Norman L. Morrison aka Pete. Pete 12-21-09